Narrators are identified by their first name and the date of their interview. First initials only are used in the case of current students. They range in length from 30 to 75 minutes. High quality, .WAV audio files and written transcripts are available for most of the interviews; a few contain supplementary written materials and photographs as well. Abstracts include demographic information on the narrators and a short overview of the interview content. Also noted are Department of Health ACE (Adverse Childhood Experiences) factors and poverty indicators (such as inter-generational poverty, food insecurity) that are referenced in the interviews. The term homelessness is broadly framed for the project using the US Congressional definition: someone who "lacks a fixed, adequate, night-time residence." There was no set duration of homelessness needed for inclusion in the project. Narrators describe situations that ranged from about a month to others that lasted for years. To see the guide and other documentation for the project please visit here.
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Helen
Age when Interviewed: 23
Date of Interview: Fall 2012
Race: Hispanic
Gender: Female
Keywords: Housing insecurity, Immigrant, Frequent moves, Intergenerational poverty, Food insecurity, Domestic violence
ACE Factors: Domestic violence
Born in Florida to an immigrant Hispanic family, Helen participated in the Voices of Homelessness project as a junior at St. Catherine University. From birth she experienced housing insecurity and throughout her life her family moved frequently, often doubling up with friends and relatives. In her interview she discusses intergenerational poverty, food insecurity, and domestic violence.
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Jazz
Age when Interviewed: 32
Date of Interview: Fall 2012
Race: African American
Gender: Female
Keywords: Housing insecurity, Frequent moves, Food insecurity, Intergenerational poverty, Single parent
ACE Factors: Parental separation or divorce
Born in Illinois, Jazz is an African American, LGBTQ-identified, single mother who participated in the Voices of Homelessness project as a senior at St. Catherine University. At the time of her interview, she lived in public housing and was experiencing housing insecurity. In May 2013 she graduated with a bachelor’s degree from St. Catherine University, and before that she obtained an LPN degree from a non-accredited trade school. Beginning at age 5 and throughout her childhood, she experienced housing insecurity, reporting frequent moves, food insecurity, and intergenerational poverty. As a young adult, she experienced foreclosure brought on by a predatory lending scheme targeting minorities and in her interview she discusses couch-surfing and sleeping in her car.
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Lahens
Age when Interviewed: 29
Date of Interview: Spring 2013
Race: Haitian
Gender: Male
Keywords: Housing insecurity, Immigrant, Intergenerational poverty, Food insecurity
ACE Factors: Physical abuse, Sexual abuse, Lack of education
Born in Haiti, Lahens is a Black St. Catherine University staff member who participated in the Voices of Homelessness project.. From birth he experienced housing insecurity and spent part of his childhood in an orphanage, begging at times, and living on the streets. At age 12 he was adopted by Sister Andrea Lee (IHM), former President of St. Catherine University, who helped him immigrate to Michigan and then to Minnesota. Prior to immigrating, he had no education. He went on to obtain an Associate’s Degree from St. Catherine University and a Bachelor’s in Social Work from St. Thomas University. In his interview he discusses his experiences with intergenerational poverty, food insecurity, physical abuse, sexual abuse, and lack of education.
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Mary
Age when Interviewed: 19
Date of Interview: Fall 2012
Race: African American / White
Gender: Female
Keywords: Housing insecurity, Intergenerational poverty
ACE Factors: Parental separation or divorce, Domestic violence
Born in the Twin Cities, Mary is an African American/White woman who participated in the Voices of Homelessness project as a first year student at St. Catherine University.Beginning around age 4 and then throughout her childhood she experienced homelessness, frequently being passed between parents and relatives and spending time in foster care. In her interview she discusses intergenerational poverty and her experiences, as an adolescent, couch-surfing and being kicked out of her family home.
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Nora
Age when Interviewed: 25
Date of Interview: Fall 2012
Race: White
Gender: Female
Keywords: Housing insecurity, Single parent
ACE Factors: Physical abuse, Domestic violence, Household substance abuse, Criminal household member, Parental separation or divorce, Mental illness in household
Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, Nora is a single mother who participated in the Voices of Homelessness project as a junior at St. Catherine University. She experienced housing insecurity from her mid-adolescence until her mid-twenties. She went on to earn a Bachelor’s from St. Catherine University in 2014, prior to which she earned an Associate’s Degree in Health Care and Human Services. Before her time at St. Catherine University, she held positions as a licensed Certified Nurse Practitioner and a Medication Aide.
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S
Age when Interviewed: 21
Date of Interview: Summer 2013
Race: White
Gender: Female
Keywords: Housing insecurity, Frequent moves
ACE Factors: ---
Born in northern Minnesota, S is a White woman who participated in the Voices of Homelessness project as a junior at St. Catherine University. She first experienced homelessness in her late teens and in her interview discusses frequent moves, couch-surfing, staying with family, and the depression and anxiety she experienced trying to find safe and secure housing.
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Shaleen
Age when Interviewed: 31
Date of Interview: Fall 2012
Race: White
Gender: Female
Keywords: Housing insecurity, Food insecurity
ACE Factors: Parental separation or divorce
Shaleen is a White woman who moved to the Twin Cities as a young child and she participated in the Voices of Homelessness project as a junior at St. Catherine University.. Prior to transferring to St. Kate’s, she earned a G.E.D. and took community college courses. Before this, starting at age 13 and throughout her adolescence, she experienced homelessness and in her interview she discusses couch-surfing and sleeping under bridges, as well as eviction from various apartments, food insecurity, and poverty.
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Sirena
Age when Interviewed: 35
Date of Interview: Summer 2013
Race: Hispanic
Gender: Female
Keywords: Housing insecurity, Immigrant, Intergenerational poverty, Food insecurity
ACE Factors: Criminal household member, Household substance abuse
Born in the Twin Cities, Sirena is an Hispanic woman who participated in the Voices of Homeless project after graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree from St. Catherine University in the summer of 2013. Since infancy she experienced housing insecurity, with her immigrant family moving frequently in the United States and Mexico. In her interview she discusses intergenerational poverty and food insecurity.
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Stacy
Age when Interviewed: 19
Date of Interview: Fall 2012
Race: White/Asian
Gender: Female
Keywords: Housing insecurity, Frequent moves, Food insecurity
ACE Factors: Parental separation or divorce
Born in rural Minnesota, Stacy is a White/Asian woman who participated in the Voices of Homelessness project as a first year student at St. Catherine University.. She experienced housing insecurity beginning at the age of 6 and throughout her childhood. In her interview she discusses frequent moves, couch-surfing, getting kicked out of her home, and being passed around from relative to relative, as well as food insecurity and poverty.
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Steve
Included in this oral history collection is a written account by Steve, a longtime staff member at St. Kate’s. He indicated interest in taking part in the project in November 2012, shortly after the recruitment posters went up. In an email, he wrote that as a young man during the 1980s, he experienced homelessness for over three years. And although many years had passed in which he had steady work as a custodian at SCU and he had become a home owner, he stated, “It’s a part of my life I will never forget and a part of my life I never ever would want to return to. … I learned a lot from my time living on the street. Getting off the street was one of the hardest things I have ever done.” I wrote back to Steve and sent him the information and consent forms for the oral history project and provided the next steps to arrange an interview. He never wrote back.
In July 2013, I tried anew to connect with Steve and arranged to meet him in person. We spoke about the project and he began to tell me his story, as he wanted it told. I listened closely and let him say his piece. Afterward, I told him that it was fascinating and would be a valuable addition to our project. Over several days we tried to schedule an interview time that worked for him, with no success. Finally he conceded that he did not like the idea of being interviewed and recorded. Instead he preferred to write his narrative and share it in that format. So, although it is not an oral history interview per se, Steve is a member of the SCU community who wanted to contribute his homelessness story as follows.